Artificial respirator



April 5, 1949. T. c. HUXLEYJJI ARTIFICIAL RESEIRATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 24, 1946 R O T N E V m THOMAS C.IHUXLEY,I[[

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 sem ARTIFICIAL nEsPiRAToR ih m ii 16 calm;

--This invention relates-to -new and useful improvements in artificialrespirators;--- 1 'f" T Objects and advantages ofthe invention will beset forth in part hereinafter and; in partwill-be obvious herefrcm,-or-may be learned by practice with the invention, the same beingrealized and attained by means of-the;instrumentalitiesandcombinations'pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the; novel -par,ts, constructions,arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described;

A The accompanying drawings, refenred to herein and constituting aparthereof; illustrate one em+ bodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention;

Of the-drawings:

' Figure 1, is aview in-perspective of apreferred form of apparatusembodying ifeatures of the present invention in place on a patient;

, Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the apparatusandpatients body along thelin ehofthe nal, l mn sh in h ma ll thep siti of.the ribs, diaphragm, viscera and body wall in the'rest stage oirespiration 7, h

Figure 3 a view similar to Figure-,2 showin th apparatus under art laquat onis ing the inspiration phase pi respiration; Q

liigure is a view of theapparatus in side elet c shown pmth pa i n lefw.

Eigure 5 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus; and pr. rain. 11w

,F r 6 sa vi wii endelevat on, view d irom h ab om nal end oi t a p raus. show n h fitting means extended and contr acted.,.

Referring to the drawingsinjdetail and particularly to F ur a shlli-shaned.casing.,.8, on t ted o a li htw h mat r al, sufli ientlyrigid to. r is "de ormat on u er mod ratesuca tion, such as jR e s -afitsi verr es upon and, enclqses th i cnta P Sifii Q 1 .0f, thep tien s;chest, said casing {beingprovided aroundpits d e, which makes co a t with patie js. lacdyl. with sealing means" l0,, made 0f a sot, ;yie1;dingair impervious material such asi foam rubber which may be covered with'a,thinjresiliently yieldable m e a uch as r ih easlise a. a. Th sealingmeans LB, extending beyond each ab; dominal end of the casingedge,;contact s thebody f r b wl .abu mei ts i ther h se lin ean H ormas b taat lly .a :t 1 s at en t c sing viiv estsiup thepatients b dy.osure. 3 consistin in; thei-nre ierreciiemer bodiment of the-inventionof a resiliently yieldable thin rubber sheet I4 are provided, said sheet[4 beingsealed t'othe .low'er. r'abdominal edge -l6 of the ;casing B andito'the-abutments 12,.thereto', the edge. I6 not being in contactwiththe p'atients body but, being a convex arch: Slighttension in theupper part of the sheet is provided byits seal with edge; l6but;:slight"1ooseness or slack is provided in the'lowerportion of thesheet with the result that its loosel". lower portion makes substantialcontact with the patients upper abdomen. ,.i .i A member l B-,;apertured to receive avertically extending rod member 20'; which is securedupon' a base 22 is provldedidireither side of the lower end of thecasing8, 'saidiinember l8 beingiajpertured to receive transverselyextending.variable, posi tionset screws-1421 ,Whichimake contactiwitl'i r'odmemberllll therebyjperrnitting regulation of the supportingIength'ofirod memberuzllr l A jA$;c1evis ,26, apert'ured to receiverodmember 20 fits." "over and; pivots. upon. member .18, said clevis. 26Lcarryingiae transversely extending rod member? 28,, fixed atone endpin,the clevis, 2,6 andv being threadedlyiiteceived at otheriendiby. a

turnbucklef3llg';,.,Thus thewidth of, the casing 8 is,connectedtoabellows oriother,suctionidevice,

not shown,so that when moderate. suctionvof three to fiVe. inches ofwate'z'riscapplied to :the .chest and upperabdon en, the ,casing 28having a subs, stantially,..air-tight-seai with thebody by virtue of.edge; seal f l 0.- a nd rubberssheet l4, at-partial Vacuum will becreated inside casing 8 which will react upon the body wall,thorax,.+diaphragm, abdominal tcavityrand -.vi scera- -.of the patientas shown inFig. 2' andEig. ,3 and more "fully-des scribedrhereinaften-so as .to .simulatethe rest @to sp r tion phaseofbreathina: A return to. normal pressure insidergcasing fltsimulatesthe expirationto restphaseof respiration.

In the operation otthe .aboyerdevice, the casing 8, is placed gonthe,pa'tient s ichest assshown in Fig.1 e t llypextendin mdemem ers.flnqand set,-

S beingcstmadjustedi that much of the weight v,oft z t appanatus-awill;rest upon the bed andunot upon the -:-patient,-w hile-:the width on the"casing 8 .is adjusted togthewpatients'chest size by adjustment ofspacing, means-,consisting of the turnbuckle ,30-1and rodimemberslfl.w Y

.Sealing: means tlzll' and the resiliently yieldablejv ubben-sheetl-fispitoyide 'a isubstantially:ai-retight seal between casing 8 and thebody of the patient and when moderate suction of three to five inches ofwater is applied through suction duct 32 to the casing 8 by means of abellows or other suction pump device, a partial vacuum is produced. Fig.2 shows a longitudinal section of the body taken along the line of thebackbone with the apparatus in place but not evacuated. The thorax A isseparated from the abdominal cavity B by the diaphragm C which extendsconvexly upward like a dome into the thorax when in the expiration phaseof respiration as schematically shown in Fig. '2. Fig. 3 showsschematically what happens during inspiration as induced by the actionof the apparatus. The ribs D are pulled to a position approximately atright angles to the backbone by the action of the intercostal muscles,the thorax expanding as the body wall E is displaced' upwardly 'into'expanded and the diaphragm is downwardly displaced, causing inhalationwhen said moderate suction is applied to the chest and upper abdomenthrough said duct.

2. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, the combinationof a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontal portion onlyof the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing having a suctionduct fitted thereto and being sufficiently rigid to resist deformationunder moderate suction applied through said duct to the chest and upperabdomen; a membe on either side of the lower end of said casing, havingan aperture therein to receive a the partially evacuated casing 8. Thediaphragm C flattens, displacing the liver F and the stomach Gdownwardly with this flattening of the -dia-. phragm being further aidedby displacement of body wall E upwardly into the case 8, which expandsthe abdominal cavity A. Comparison of the Figs. 2 and 3 will also showthe change in positioning of the rubber sheet M when the case 8 ispartially evacuated. Alternation between partial evacuation and normalpressure of the air within casing 8 at the rate of approximately sixteentimes per minute for an adult patient will successfully simulate normalrespiration.

The lightweight apparatus shown in the preferred embodiment of theinvention is so sealed to the frontal portion only of the patients torsoand is so supported at its lower end that much of. its weight rests,upon the. bed so that skin irriation and discomfort to the patient isminimized when the apparatus is worn over long periods of time. Theapparatus is readily adjustable to different chest sizes and permitsconsiderable necessary motion to the patient, thus facilitating histreatment as by manipulation. The sturdy, inexpensive, lightweightconstrue--v tion, readily'adjustable to various chest sizes, minimizingthe patients discomfort presents marked improvement over the cumbersomeex-- pensive respirators now in use and marks a con-, siderableimprovement in the treatment of pa.- tients suffering from paralysis ofthe respiratory muscles. p V

The invention in' its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, the combinationof a casing ,to fit over; rest upon and enclose the frontal portion onlyof the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing having a suctionduct fitted thereto and being sufiiciently rigid to resist deformationunder moderate suction applied through said duct to the chest and upperabdomen; means for supporting said casing at its abdominal end,relieving the patient of much'of the weight of the apparatus; means atthe abdominal end of said casing to adjust its width to different chestsizes; means for sealing said casing to the chest at the sides andadjacent to the clavicles; closure means at the lower end of saidcasing, adapted to make substantial contact with the abdomen;

whereby the thorax and abdominal cavity are vertically extending rodmember which is secured upon a base, said member having means forsecuring said rod member in various positions whereby said casing may bepositioned so that much of its weight is carried by said rod member andbears upon the bed, rather than upon the patients body; means at theabdominal end of said casing to adjust its width to different chestsizes; means for sealing said casing to the chest at the sides andadjacent to the clavicles; closure means at the lower end of saidcasing, adapted to make substantial contact with the abdomen; wherebythe thorax and abdominal cavity are expanded and the diaphragm isdisplaced, causing inhalation when said moderate suction is applied tothe chest and upper abdomen through said duct.

3. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, the combinationof a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontal portion onlyof the patients chestand upper abdomen, said casing having a suctionduct fitted thereto and being suificiently rigid to resist deformationunder moderate suction applied through said duct to the chest and upperabdomen; means for supporting said casing at its abdominal end,relieving the patient of much of the weight of the apparatus; a clevis,having an aperture therein to receive a vertically extending rod memberfitted over a member on either side of the lower end of said casing,said clevis carrying a transversely extending rod member, fixed at oneend in said clevis, forming a portion of a turnbuckle whereby the Widthof said casing may be varied to fit different chest sizes; means forsealing said casing to the chest at the sides and adjacent to theclavicles; closure means at the lower end of said casing, adapted tomake substantial contact with the abdomen; whereby the thorax andabdominal cavity are expanded and the diaphragm is displaced,causinginhalation when said moderate suction is applied to the chest andupper abdomen through said duct.

4. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, the combinationof a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontal portion onlyof the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing having a suctionduct fitted thereto and being sufiiciently rigid to resist deformationunder.

moderate suction applied through said duct to the chest and upperabdomen; means for supporting said casing at its abdominal end,relieving, the patient of much of the weight of the apparatus; means atthe abdominal end of said casing to adjust its width to different chestsizes; sealing means of a soft, yielding substance covered with thinsheet material to render it air im- 'pervious, said sealing means beingfastened to the edge of said casing which contacts the patients body andextending beyond each abdominal end of the edge of said casingcontacting the may, sate seaili'ng arrears ioim inIg a"'su'tistaifi tianair-tight seal when said c as iil'g ie psfifibijl the patiehts body;cl'o's'ure mea s at thei end of said casing, adapted to inaiiesiiilostz'augi ial "centaet with the abdomen; whereby the thorax bhdabdominal cavity "are "e kpa-ndd and "the diaphragm is displaced, eausmgma azine when said moderate suction is applied to "the che'st and upperabdomen through said duct. I

5. In an apparatus foi' producing artificial res' piratidn, thecombination of a casing to fit over; rest upon and enclose the frontalportion only (if the .patients chest and upper abdomen, said asinghaving a suction duct fitted thereto and be '3 sufficiently rigid toresist deformation under moderate suction applied through said duct tothe chest and upper abdomen; means for sti porting said casing at itsabdominal end, relieving the patient of much of the weight of the app'aratus; means at the abdominal end of said casing to adjust its width todifierent chest sizes; means forsealing said casing to the chest at thesides and adjacent to the clavicles; a resiliently yield able, thinrubber-like sheet, sealed to the lower or abdominal edge of said casingwhich arches convexly away from the patients body and to block likeabutments; where the ends of said seal ing means between the body andthe edge of said casing extend beyond lower edges of said casing, slighttension being provided in the upper part of said sheet by its seal withthe edge of the abdominal end of said casingand slight looseness orslack being provided in the lower portion of said Sheet by its seal withthe edge of theahdominal end of said casing and with said block likeabutmentgwhereby the loose, lower portion fnakes substantial contactwiththe patients abdomen; the thorax and abdominal cavity being i'r'paiidedand the diaphragm displaced, thus causing inhalation when saidmoderatesuction is applied to the chest and upper abdomen through said duct. V

6. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, the combinationof a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontal portion onlyof the patients chest arid upper abdomen, said casing having a suctionduct fitted thereto and being su'ffic'iently rigid t6 r'sist deformationunder moderate suction applied through said duct to the chest and upperabdomen; a member on either side of the lower nd of said casing, havingan aperture therein to receive a vertically extending rod member whichis secured upon a base, said member having means for securing said r'odmember in varioiis positions whereby said casing may be positioned sothat much of its weight is carried by said rod member and bears upon thebed, rather than upon the patientfs body; a cle'vis, having an aperturetherein to receive a vertically extending rod member, fitted; over a;member on either side of the lower end of said casing, said cleviscarrying a transversely, e'iit'ending rod member, fixed at one end insaidclvis, forminga portion of a turnbuckle whereby the width of saidcasing may be-var ied to fit different chest sizes; meansfo'fsealingsaid casing to the chest at the sides and adjacent to theclavicles; closure means at the lower end of saidc'asing, adapted tomake substantial contact with the'abdome'n; wherebythe thorax andabdominal cavity are expanded and the diaphragm is displaced, causinginhalation when said moderate suction is applied to the chest and upperabdomen through said duct.

7. In' an apparatus fof producingartificial a ic iin .f i fidin ti i,;pi i at over, est upon and enclose the frontal po n bnly th Pat n cheand im e abdp 1. said P harmeg sec i duc t d th; in "arid bein' gsluflicient ly rigid to resistdefoimat ti d m e ate sg iiq aiig i' t h sid d d j e that and upper bdpm i a embe on -ther side of t "e lower endof s'aid casing,

ie an a er re 12 'e ei to e e e z v ti a ly iex" ng rod memberwhichissecuredupon a sa d-member having means for securingsaid rod invarious pos tions whereby said casing may t eesiute a so th'atmuch ofitsweight is ear,-

by said rod in ber and bears upon the had, her than the patients body; aclevi's, ha Hg an aperture therein to receive a vertically extending rodmember, fitted over a member on e her side oi the lower end of saidcasing, said tile is carrying a transversely extending rod member, hiredat enema in said clevis, formin a po tioh ar turnbuckle whereby thewidth of i g maybe var ed to td fierent eh t sizes; sealing means of asoft, yielding substance chvered with thin sheet irratterial to renderit air impervious, said sealing means being fastenedt'o d i it s e si whn st t e a? tients ed y ahuextenemg beyond ea'ch abdoni; iiial ehddf theedge of said casing contacting th'e biidij, said sealing means forming asubst ntiauy at tight seal whensaid casing rests; upon the pa' bg yxqlqre m a a the owe nd or said casing, adapted to make substantial contactwith the abdomen; whereby the thorax andab m"'1ca ye e r ede a d r m eed au in nh on w en sa d mo' i, dtion sapfpueq to the chest and upperabdoinenthrough said duct. I

8. In an apparatus for producing artificial espi eti ,,ihe sem ie tib oa casing to fi over; res't uponl and enclose the frontal portion 0'" 1yof the patients chest and upper abdomen, g n suction ductfitted theretop y rigid to resistideformation oderate suction applied through said uctst andupper abdomen; meansior supl said casing, said clevis carrying atransversely extiidihg' red member, hired at one end in said" cievi reion of a' turnbuckle where bythe vn th 5f saidK'c asing' may be variedto st different chest sizes; sealing means of a soft, yielding substancecovered with thin sheet material to render it'ai'r impervious, saidsealing means heme fastened tothe edge of said casing which con ic'tsth'paiti'en'ts'body and xtending beyo 'i d e rsam a i, ea i m ns? f rmli'y a pse l n. sa see g. e P i lb dill cl mm'e f v i er s' d casing}adapted to n so: stanial" eohtact with the abdomen; V p the thorax"'bdorrrinal cavity' are expanded and the" d'iafp displaced, causinginhale tionwh n-said modera e' suction is -applied to the chest andupper abdomen through said duet, 9: In an apparatus for producing"artificial" respirationl the combination of a casing to fit over; restupbhand enclose the fro tal port only of the patints' chest and up 'i rjabd said casing having a cti'oh ascen ed th re 01' and beingsufficiently rigidto resist deform gamm under moderate suction appliedthrough said duct to the chest and upper abdomen; means for supportingsaid casing at its abdominal end, relieving the patient of much of theweight f the apparatus; a clevis, having an aperture therein to receivea vertically extending rod member, fitting over a member on either sideof the lower end of said casing, said clevis carrying a transverselyextending rod member, fixed at one end in said clevis, forming a portionof a tunrbuckle whereby the width of said casing may be varied to fitdifierent chest sizes; sealing means of a soft, yielding substancecovered with thin sheet material to render it air impervious, saidsealing means being fastened to the edge of said casing which contactsthe patients body and extending beyond each abdominal end of the edge ofsaid casing contacting the body, said sealing means forming asubstantially air-tight seal when said casing rests upon the patientsbody; a resilient- 1y yieldable, thin rubber-like sheet, sealed to thelower or abdominal edge of said casing which arches convexly away fromthe patients body and to block like abutments, where the ends of saidsealing means between the body and the edge of said casing extend beyondlower edges of said casing, slight tension being provided in the upperpart of said sheet by its seal with the edge of the abdominal end ofsaid casing and slight looseness or slack being provided in the lowerportion of said sheet by its seal when the edge of the abdominal end ofsaid casing and with said block like abutments, whereby the loose, lowerportion makes substantial contact with the patients abdomen; the thoraxand abdominal cavity being expanded and the diaphragm dis- :placed, thuscausing inhalation when said moderate suction is applied to the chestand upper abdomen through said duct.

1Q. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, thecombination of a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontalportion only of the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing havinga suction duct fitted thereto and being sufiiciently rigid to resistdeformation under moderate suction applied through said duct to thechest and upper abdomen; means for supporting said casing at itsabdominal end, relieving the patient of much of the weight of theapparatus; means at the abdominal end of said casing to adjust its widthto difierent chest sizes;

sealing means of a soft, yielding substance covered with thin sheetmaterial to render it air impervious, said sealing means being fastenedto the edge of said casing which contacts the patients body andextending beyond each abdominal end of the edge of said casingcontacting the body, said sealing means forming a substantiallyair-tight seal when said casing rests upon the patients body; aresiliently yieldable, thin rubber-like sheet, sealed to the lower orabdominal edge of said casing which arches convexly away from thepatients body and to block like abutments, where the ends of saidsealing means between the body and the edge of said casing extend beyondthe lower edges of said casing, slight tension being provided in theupper part of said sheet by its seal with the edge of the abdominal endof said casing and slight looseness or slack being provided in the lowerportion of said sheet by its seal with the edge of the abdominal end ofsaid casing and with said block like abutments, whereby the loose, lowerportion makes substantial contact with the patients abdomen; the thoraxand abdominal 8 cavity being expanded and the diaphragm dise placed,thus causing inhalation when said moderate suction is applied to thechest and upper abdomen through said duct.

11. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, thecombination of a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontalportion only of the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing havinga suction duct fitted thereto and being sufliciently rigid to resistdeformation under moderate suction applied through said duct to thechest and upper abdomen; a member on either side of the lower end ofsaid casing, having an aperture therein to receive a verticallyextending rod member which is secured upon a base, said member havingmeans for securing said rod member in various positions whereby saidcasing may be positioned so that much of its weight is carried by saidrod member and bears upon the bed, rather than upon the patients body;means at the abdominal end of said casing to adjust its width todifferent chest sizes; means for sealing said casing to the chest at thesides and adjacent to the clavicles; a resiliently yieldable, thinrubber-like sheet, sealed to the lower or abdominal edge of said casingwhich arches convexly away from the patients body and to block likeabutments, where the ends of said sealing means between the body and theedge of said casing extend beyond the lower edges of said casing, slighttension being provided in the upper part of said sheet by its seal withthe edge of the abdominal end of said casing and slight looseness orslack being provided in the lower portion of said sheet by its seal withthe edge of the abdominal end of said casing and with said block likeabutments, whereby the loose, lower portion makes substantial contactwith the patients abdomen; the thorax and abdominal cavity beingexpanded and the diaphragm displaced, thus causing inhalation when saidmoderate suction is applied to the chest and upper abdomen through saidduct.

12. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, thecombination of a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontalportion only of the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing havinga suction duct fitted thereto and being sufiiciently rigid to resistdeformation under moderate suction applied through said duct to thechest and upper abdomen; a member on either side of the lower end ofsaid casing, having an aperture therein to receive a verticallyextending rod member which is secured upon a base, said member havingmeans for securing said rod member in various positions whereby saidcasing may be positioned so that much of its weight is carried by saidrod member and bears upon the bed, rather than upon the patients body;means at the abdominal end of said casing to adjust its width todifierent chest sizes; sealing means of a soft, yielding substancecovered with thin sheet material to render it air impervious, saidsealing means being fastened to the edge of said casing which contactsthe patients body and extending beyond each abdominal end of the edge ofsaid casing contacting the body, said sealing means forming asubstantially air-tight seal when said casing rests upon the patientsbody; a resiliently yieldable, thin rubber-like sheet, sealed to thelower or abdominal edge of said casing which arches convexly away fromthe patients body and to block like abutments, where the ends of saidsealing means between the body and the edge of said casing extend beyondthe lower edges of said casing, slight tension being provided in theupper part of said sheet by its seal with the edge of the abdominal endof said casing and slight looseness or slack being provided in the lowerportion of said sheet by its seal with the edge of the abdominal end ofsaid casing and with said block like abutments, whereby the loose, lowerportion makes substantial contact with the patients abdomen; the thoraxand abdominal cavity being expanded and the diaphragm displaced, thuscausing inhalation when said moderate suction is applied to the chestand upper abdomen through said duct.

13. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, thecombination of a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontalportion only of the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing havinga suction duct fitted thereto and being sufficiently rigid to resistdeformation under moderate suction applied through said duct to thechest and upper abdomen; a member on either side of the lower end ofsaid casing, having an aperture therein to receive a verticallyextending rod member which is secured upon a base, said abutment havingmeans for securing said rod member in various positions whereby saidcasing may be positioned so that much of its weight is carried by saidrod member and bears upon the bed, rather than upon the patients body;means at the abdominal end of said casing to adjust its width todifferent chest sizes; sealing means of a soft, yielding substancecovered with thin sheet material to render it air impervious, saidsealing means being fastened to the edge of said casing which contactsthe patients body and extending beyond each abdominal end of the edge ofsaid casing contacting the body, said sealing means forming asubstantially air-tight seal when said casing rests upon the patientsbody; closure means at the lower end of said casing, adapted to makesubstantial contact with the abdomen; whereby the thorax and abdomi nalcavity are expanded and the diaphragm is displaced, causing inhalationwhen said moderate suction is applied to the chest and upper abdomenthrough said duct.

14. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, thecombination of a casing to fit over, rest upon and enclose the frontalportion only of the patients chest and upper abdomen, said casing havinga suction duct fitted thereto and being sufiiciently rigid to resistdeformation under moderate suction applied through said duct to thechest and upper abdomen; a member on either side of the lower end ofsaid casing, having an aperture therein to receive a verticallyextending rod member which is secured upon a base, said member havingmeans for securing said rod member in various positions whereby saidcasing may be positioned so that much of its weight is carried by saidrod member and bears upon the bed, rather than upon the patients body; aclevis, having an aperture therein to receive a vertically extending rodmember, fitting over a block like abutment on either side of the lowerend of said casing, said clevis carrying a transversely extending rodmember, fixed at one end in said clevis, forming a portion of aturnbuckle whereby the width of said casing may be varied to fitdifierent chest sizes; means for sealing said casing to the chest at thesides and adjacent to the clavicles; a resiliently yieldable, thinrubber-like sheet, sealed to the lower or abdominal edge of said casingwhich arches convexly away from the patients body and to block likeabutments, where the ends of said sealing means between the body and theedge of said casing extend beyond the lower edges of said casing, slighttension being provided in the upper part of said sheet by its seal withthe edge of the abdominal end of said casing and slight looseness orslack being provided in the lower portion of said sheet by its seal withthe edge of the abdominal end of said casing and with said block likeabutments, whereby the loose, lower portion makes substantial contactwith the patients abdomen; the thorax and abdominal cavity beingexpanded and the diaphragm displaced, thus causing inhalation when saidmoderate suction is applied to the chest and upper abdomen through saidduct.

15. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, thecombination of a casing to fit over the patients chest and upperabdomen, said casing having a suction duct fitted thereto and beingsufficiently rigid to resist deformation under moderate suction appliedthrough said duct to the chest and upper abdomen; means for supportingsaid casing at its abdominal end relieving the patient of much of theweight of the apparatus; closure means at the lower end of said casing,adapted to make substantial contact with the abdomen; whereby the thoraxand abdominal cavity are expanded and the diaphragm is displaced,causing inhalation when said moderate suction is applied to the chestand upper abdomen through said duct.

16. In an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, thecombination of a casing to fit over the patients chest and upperabdomen, said casing having a suction duct fitted thereto and beingsuificiently rigid to resist deformation under moderate suction appliedthrough said duct to the chest and upper abdomen; means at the abdominalend of said casing to adjust its width to difierent chest sizes; meansfor sealing said casing to the chest at the sides and adjacent to theclavicles; closure means at the lower end of said casing, adapted tomake substantial contact with the abdomen, said closure means comprisinga thin rubber-like sheet sealed to and supported on the abdominal end ofsaid casing; whereby the thorax and abdominal cavity are expanded andthe diaphragm is displaced, causing inhalation when said moderatesuction is applied to the chest and upper abdomen through said duct.

THOMAS C. HUXLEY, III.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,065,982 Nordin Dec. 29, 19362,229,728 Eddels Jan. 28, 1941 2,287,939 Kraft June 30, 1942

